Did you know that the impact of employee stress and burnout costs companies $125 billion to $190 billion every year in healthcare? The same report notes that burnout leads to disengagement, which costs companies another $3,400 out of every $10,000 in salary. The financial risks of burnout are unmistakable — but an employee wellness program can make all the difference.
Healthy employees mean long-term employee retention, higher levels of productivity, and improved quality of work. While this also means more cost-savings, it also means a happier and more loyal staff to rely on.
Here's a complete breakdown of the impact and signs of employee burnout, why wellness matters in the workplace, and how employee wellness improves ROI.
The Prevalence of Burnout
Although most companies don't realize it, employee burnout is more prevalent than you think. According to a Gallup study, about 28% of their full-time-employee respondents reported feeling burned out at work 'very often' or 'always.' An additional 48% said they feel burned out 'sometimes.'
This means that nearly eight in 10 full-time employees sometimes experience burnout on the job.
Considering most (at least 70%) employees would quit their job if they feel like the company isn't doing enough to prevent employee burnout, employers must start prioritizing ways to avoid burnout more.
This begins with recognizing the signs.
What are the Signs of Employee Burnout?
- Exhaustion
- Disengagement
- Absenteeism
- Distancing Behaviors
- Decreased Productivity
The Cost of Burnout
You got a taste of the cost of burnout in earlier sections, but here's a deeper dive into what to expect. To name a few, the price of burnout can include:
- Disengaged employees are less productive.
- If they are customer-facing, good customer experiences can decrease.
- Exhausted employees are more likely to get sick.
- Absent employees reduce the productivity of the team and the ability to get things done.
- Burnt out employees can affect morale and overall culture.
ALL of these decrease revenue and increase expenses.
UMass Lowell reports that job stress costs American companies a shocking $300 billion or more annually in health costs, absenteeism, and poor performance.
Additional statistics reported in UMass Lowell's research that support the heavy impact stress has on a company's bottom line include:
- Almost half (40%) of job turnover is due to stress.
- Healthcare costs are nearly 50% greater for employees who report having high-stress levels.
- More health complaints are due to job stress than financial or family problems.
- Replacing the average employee costs nearly 120-200% of the position's salary.
- A large company's average cost of absenteeism is $3.6 million or more a year.
Making Employee Wellness a Priority
Now that you have a better idea of the costs of stress and burnout, an excellent solution to preventing it in your workplace is to establish a wellness program for all employees.
WellSteps reports that wellness programs reduce health risks in as quickly as six weeks, earn ROIs of $3.27 per $1 invested, and reduce the costs of poor productivity by two to three times.
Great wellness programs often include:
- Stress Reduction
- Weight Loss
- Smoking Cessation
- Health Risk Assessments
- Health Screenings
- Exercise Programs & Activities
- Nutrition Education
- Vaccination Clinics
You'll also want to consider more than just physical health when prioritizing the well-being of your staff. Make sure you are also offering the following:
- A Work/Life Balance
- Provide Flexibility in Schedules
- Cultivate Employee Autonomy
- Provide Emotional Support Resources
- Vacation Time & Sick Days
- Offer Professional Development Opportunities (around 48% of workers say that investing in their professional development is one of the most effective stress-reduction methods that their employers can offer)
Get Your Team Happy and Healthy with PRO Wellness
Keeping your staff happy and healthy is essential to your entire operation running smoothly. The financial impact of employee burnout and stress is more than most companies can handle. It impacts the health and well-being of your staff and your potential to grow and flourish in today's market.
This is where PRO Resources can help.
Our PRO Wellness Program is designed to improve your team's mental, physical, and emotional health. We do this by providing one-on-one or group coaching and implementing strategies that allow companies of every size to achieve positive changes and motivate employees to be their best. Our wellness program offers options such as:
- Body Mass Index (BMI) Profiles
- Blood Pressure Screenings
- Lipid Profiles & Education
- Flu Shots
- Customized Goal Setting
- Exercise Plans
- Healthier Lifestyle Education
- Nutritional Education
- Stress Management
- Tobacco Cessation
- Weight Loss
- Weight Loss Maintenance
- Wellness Event Planning
- Personal Wellness Coach
Get Your Team Happy and Healthy with PRO Wellness
Contact us for more insight into the importance of reducing employee burnout, why employee wellness matters for your business, and how our wellness program can solve your problem.